Acne

Acne is the skin condition most commonly seen by doctors. It occurs when pores become clogged by dead skin cells resulting in accumulation of sebum, an oily substance produced by oil glands.

Bacteria within pores, called Propionibacterium acnes (P. acnes), can contribute to pore blockage and inflammation – visible as redness, swelling and pus that may accompany acne spots. The result is acne, the term used to describe emerging blackheads, whiteheads, pimples and cysts. Acne usually appears on the face and neck but can also affect shoulders, back and upper arms.

Everyone gets a pimple sometime in their life. Acne often starts around puberty and may last 5-10 years or continue into adulthood.

Milder forms of acne can usually be treated with topical over-the-counter (OTC) products. For more severe, stubborn and/or widespread acne, see your family doctor or a dermatologist for advice, diagnosis and possibly a prescription for stronger medications/ therapies.

Overactive sebaceous (oil-producing) glands start producing more sebum, usually at puberty, and the excess sebum clogs pores. This leads to the inflammation (redness and swelling) often associated with acne.

Heredity (genes) is another factor determining who gets acne, and how severely. If either or both of your parents had acne you are more likely to develop acne too.

Several factors can make acne flare up or lead to breakouts, though triggers can vary from person to person. You can help to control the condition by avoiding things that you notice make your acne worse.

Cosmetics

Makeup and hair care products can clog pores. When shopping, look for these acne-friendly terms on labels: ‘oil-free’, ‘non-comedogenic’ or ‘non-acnegenic’.

Physical pressure

Pressure due to a chinstrap, phone receiver, sports helmet, headband, guitar strap, bra strap, shoulder pads and other tight clothing can lead to acne developing at the point of skin contact.

Sweating

Excessive sweat can worsen acne in some people, especially if trapped under damp clothing.

Overwashing

Washing your face twice a day with a mild cleanser is recommended for acne-prone skin. Cleaning it more often, scrubbing/exfoliating or using strong cleansers or astringent products (i.e. toners with alcohol) can irritate the skin.

Medications

Certain medications can cause acne to flare up, such as oral corticosteroids, some contraceptive pills (progestin only) and anticonvulsives.

Menstrual cycle

Many girls and women notice that acne flares up near their monthly period.

Picking or squeezing

Picking and squeezing acne spots can make them worse and increase risk of permanent scarring. This is because manipulation can extend sebum and bacteria into surrounding skin tissues, leading to more swelling, redness and possible infection.

Food

If a certain kind of food seems to aggravate your acne, avoid it. There is evidence that avoiding dairy products or having a diet with a low glycemic index may reduce symptoms for some people.

Stages of acne

Various terms describe different forms of acne — such as comedones, papules, pustules, nodules and cysts.

There are three levels of acne severity:

Mild — a few small lesions that are close to skin surface, may are may not be inflamed

Moderate — marked by somewhat larger and more extensive whiteheads/blackheads and inflamed red spots that cover more of the face, possibly also on back and chest

Severe — involves many more acne spots, some deeper lumps called nodules and cysts, redness and inflammation over much of the face and/or back and chest

Most teens are affected by acne to some degree. That’s because the surge in hormones that happens at puberty seems to jump-start acne.

Male hormones – androgens – increase the size and number of sebaceous glands, and the amount of sebum (oily substance) they produce. Some studies have shown that the earlier acne appears, the worse it can get during the teen years.

Learning about acne then treating it early and effectively is vital to keep the condition from becoming more severe and from causing staining and scarring.

Acne can show up as early as birth; this form is called acne neonatorum, ‘baby acne’. It affects about 20 per cent of all newborns, mainly on the cheeks and nose. Lesions appear as small, red bumps.

Baby acne usually appears two weeks after birth, and lasts from a few weeks to at least three months. The cause is maternal hormones that remain after delivery and stimulate the baby’s sebaceous glands. Those hormones cross the placenta, ultimately causing the overactive oil glands to produce pimple-like bumps.

Baby acne can flare up and become more irritated when skin comes into contact with saliva, milk, some fabrics or when the child is too hot. Unlike other acne forms, baby acne clears up on its own and doesn’t require any treatment. In severe cases, a doctor may recommend some form of topical treatment. Having baby acne does not predict who will develop acne in adolescence.

Acne can be mild and short-lived or severe, prolonged and disfiguring. But what acne looks like doesn’t matter as much as how it makes a person feel. Long dismissed as a temporary condition and rite of passage, we now know differently.

A Canadian study of nearly 500 patients with acne, published in the British Journal of Dermatology, found that even having mild acne can evoke feelings of low self-esteem, depression and thoughts of self harm. The fact that acne often coincides with the start of puberty adds to feelings of uncertainty about self image and can contribute to emotional issues.

Quick facts about acne

Acne affects 5.6 million Canadians, nearly 20 per cent of the population.

More than 80 per cent of acne sufferers are between ages 12 and 24.

Acne affects about 90 per cent of adolescents, and 20-30 per cent of adults ages 20 to 40.

Acne affects the face in 99 per cent of cases but can also affect the body in 50% of cases.

Infant acne affects approximately 20 per cent of newborns.

Starting around puberty and lasting until adulthood, acne can persist for many years, regardless of age.

Even mild acne can cause scarring, although the more severe (cystic) acne is associated most strongly with scarring risk. The risk of scarring is highest in those with severe acne, those who have had acne for a prolonged time, those with a family history of acne scarring, and those who squeeze or manipulate their acne spots.

Scars result from injury to the skin. There are two types: atrophic (loss of tissue) or hypertrophic (greater amount of tissue) scars. These present as holes or indents due to loss of skin tissue or rubbery thickened knots of skin, respectively.

How to reduce scarring

Prevention is the best treatment: this includes treating acne early and controlling it to prevent new lesions forming. If you develop scars, ask a dermatologist about treatment options.

Tretinoin creams and gels can be used to treat superficial scarring (not for deep or elevated scarring). They assist collagen production, helping skin to build new unscarred tissue.

Do wash your face! Use a recognized acne cleanser once or twice daily to help acne.Do apply sunscreen! Skin is much more sensitive to UV rays when you use acne treatment products. Choose one that is non-comedogenic and non-acnegenic.Do use oil-free products if you wear makeup. Look for non-comedogenic products – those that don’t contain pore-clogging ingredients.Do launder pillowcases and sheets often. They absorb oil, and can lead to more deposition of dirt and oil on your skin.Do wash makeup brushes with antimicrobial soap. Makeup applicators can store bacteria.Don’t pop! Picking and squeezing leads to more bacteria being distributed, inviting more acne. It can also lead to more stains and scars.Don’t stress out! Stress can indirectly worsen acne by affecting your hormones.Don’t feel alone. Nearly everyone in the world gets pimples.Don’t scrub too much! It can irritate skin and aggravate your acne.Don’t wear makeup! Take time out to let your skin breathe and heal (at least once a week).

Eating greasy food makes acne worse — Certain foods such as chocolate, french fries and other greasy foods have long been suspected of aggravating acne, but scientific studies have not found a connection.

Poor hygiene can cause acne — Acne is not due to dirty skin, and doesn’t reflect personal hygiene habits. And blackheads aren’t dirt-filled pores. They’re black because the oil in them (keratin) is oxidized when it comes into contact with air. In fact, washing vigorously and too often can make acne worse by irritating the skin.

Acne will go away quickly — It may clear up, but acne can get worse before it improves. The longer you have acne, the greater the chances of permanent scarring. The most effective way to get rid of acne is to talk to your doctor about what treatment is right for you.

You can get acne from contact with someone who has it — Acne may be unsightly and embarrassing, but it is not contagious.

Sun exposure and tanning clear up skin — Neither outdoor nor indoor tanning will help acne over the long run. Being in the sun can help initially by drying up skin lesions and surface oils, and masking spots by tanning, but the effect is temporary. More often, people will experience an acne flare-up after UV exposure. Sun exposure also raises the risk of skin cancer.

You should see a doctor when using OTC products isn’t improving your acne. Your family doctor or a dermatologist can help with acne at any stage. Even mild acne can lead to scarring, and there’s no way to predict whether mild acne will progress to becoming more severe.

Types of treatment

Non-prescription medications (OTC)

For mild acne, you can try OTC treatments before asking your doctor for help. These are usually milder than prescription-strength products, and are readily available. Examples are medicated cleansers and topical creams and gels.

Active ingredients usually include salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide, in various concentrations. Salicylic acid boosts anti-inflammatory and peeling action while benzoyl peroxide kills bacteria and is known to cause drying and slight peeling. Benzoyl peroxide-based cleansers and creams are available OTC in concentrations of 5 per cent or less, or in higher concentrations (10 per cent) by prescription. Whatever you try, you need to stick to the treatment for a couple of months before seeing a difference. Visit your doctor if you don’t notice improvement within six to eight weeks.

Tips

Topical medication should be applied to the entire affected area, not just individual pimples.

Applying more won’t work better or faster, so apply a thin layer evenly.

Use product as directed on the label and as recommended by your doctor.

Products containing benzoyl peroxide can make your skin more sensitive to the sun, so reduce sun exposure and wear sun protection.

Topical antibiotics (i.e. erythromycin, clindamycin) can be recommended to help control the inflammation associated with the redness and swelling of acne. These should be used in combination with benzoyl peroxide to prevent the development of antibiotic resistant bacteria.

Oral antibiotics (i.e. tetracycline, minocycline) are usually indicated for moderate to severe acne of the chest, back and shoulders. Treatment should be restricted to a few months to prevent antibiotic resistance developing. These should be used in combination with benzoyl peroxide for reasons stated above.

Hormonal agents such as oral contraceptives (OCs) and spironolactone, are recommended for moderate to severe acne (e.g. cystic). They are often use in combination with topical treatments. Acne that flares up in the premenstrual part of the cycle and acne that occurs along the jawline, which is usually hormonal, both respond to hormonal therapy.

What you should know

Acne may worsen in the first 1-2 weeks of treatment.

You shouldn’t take this kind of medication if you’re pregnant, since hormonal agents can cause birth defects.

Cigarette smoking increases the risk of heart attack, and strokes with use of these hormonal agents.

Oral contraceptives are generally not recommended for women over 35.

Retinoids (vitamin A derivatives) come in topical and oral forms.

Topical retinoids (i.e. tretinoin, adapalene, tazarotene) help reduce pore blockage and reduce inflammation. They are used across the spectrum of acne from mild to severe.

Oral isotretinoin is the only oral retinoid indicated for acne. It is reserved for severe acne or for cases not responding to the other treatments discussed.

What you should know

Topical retinoids can cause redness and peeling, so avoid using them near the eyes, mouth or nose.

Oral isotretinoin:

must not be used if there is any risk of pregnancy due to the possibility of severe birth defects and miscarriage. Health Canada warns that taking even a single dose can cause problems in a developing fetus.

breastfeeding must be avoided while using isotretinoin

doctors must follow the pregnancy prevention program when treating women of childbearing age: educating the patient about potential risks; information about birth control options; having the patient provide informed consent and ensuring pregnancy testing before, during and after use of isotretinoin.

has been linked to depression, even suicide in some. Studies suggest that the cause of these problems may be acne rather than oral isotretinoin.

can increase skin sensitivity to the sun and reduce night vision. Appropriate sun protection and awareness of this potential for night driving is important.

Why stick with treatment?

Once your doctor has prescribed a treatment, you should use it properly and continue for as long as recommended. Many acne medications initially cause dryness, peeling, flaking, redness, irritation and/or possibly acne flare-ups. In some cases, acne can worsen before getting better. Any of these effects can lead some to stop treatment early. Ask and understand why your doctor prescribed a certain treatment, how to use it and for how long, what results to expect and when you should see improvement.

Your doctor may suggest easing into a treatment regimen to allow your skin to get used to it. For example, using the product every 2nd or 3rd night can reduce the risk of irritation. Moisturizer use can reduce dryness and scaling. After 2-4 weeks, your skin should be used to the product and you should be able to apply and leave it on all day/night without significant irritation. Any skin irritation due to treatment should subside after a few days of use.